I just knew there was a reason why I was chilling a split of champagne in my refrigerator. Congratulations Taylor. I knew you had it the moment I saw your sweet gray head at the Vegas auditions. When you said you were auditioning because you wanted your voice heard, I was completely charmed. I want that sentence embroidered on a pillow. And I was thrilled, elated, touched, excited, and moved by your performances throughout the season and through the wonders of the Internet, I was able to discover your very own amazing music.
Was it a total surprise that Taylor won? No. Soul Patrol was out in full force. Yet, I was thrilled when he won!! I jumped up and down, clapped, squealed, and broke open the champagne. For so long, I’ve felt disconnected from popular culture (and I bet many of you have, too). There are so many people who are famous for...what? Do they sing, act, design clothes? I don’t know, but I know their names and their art/product seems to be more like vanity projects than something they have to do body, mind, and soul. Are these people any good at what they do? Does it matter? Actually being good seems to be beside the point. As long as your face and name is in “In Touch” magazine, being a person of substance, skill, and talent really doesn’t matter and that truly bothers me.
And Taylor was so gracious and sweet in winning. I loved how he thanked the fellow contestants and the band and how he shouted out Soul Patrol.
As for the rest of show....
I don’t think I can wrap my brain around on how amazing the show was last night. I ran the gamut of emotions and feelings-excitement, sadness, euphoria, joy, etc. There were so many OMG, OMG, OMG, SQUEEEE!!!! moments. Elliott singing “One” with Mary J. Blige. He sounded fabulous but of course Mary J. Blige had to make the song about her. Can you imagine if U2 came out to sing this with Elliott? Blue Crack would implode. I, personally, would have loved it.
The group medleys, especially the boy medley (OMG Taylor brought out his harmonica) and the Burt Bacharach medley were also wonderful (Elliott sang “A House is Not a Home” beautifully). They reminded me how much I’m looking forward to their concert. August 12 can’t come fast enough.
And OMG, AI actually got Prince to perform. SQUEEEE!!!!!
I thought the Puck and Pickler sketch was kind of cute (I’ll show myself out) and the judges’ montages seriously cracked me up. However, seeing Simon rubbing his man boobs over and over again nearly made me throw up in my mouth.
Apparently Toni Braxton didn’t realize that “In the Ghetto” is about a poverty-stricken kid, but about being “Ghetto Fabulous.” She’s classless.
Did anyone think Right Said Fred when Chris performed with Live? Well, I think it’s pretty cool that Chris got to sing with his musical heroes.
I also like the Dundies Awards. Ooops, I mean Golden Idol Awards. The HoYay between Ace and Chris was smoking hot. But I thought the Broke Note Cowboys did a pretty decent job. And Mamaleh Yamin deserves more than Golden Idol award. I want her to be named “Mother of the Year.” Then I realized that she’s in the same company as Rhonetta &%#@ Johnson. Oh well, mazel tov, Mamaleh Yamin.
The Fake Clay Aiken seriously losing his shit over meeting Clay Aiken (and his Emo hair) was a hoot!
P.S. I read somewhere that Taylor bought the velvet jacket to wear specifically at the finale. Now I feel guilty for saying it looked like he pulled if from the hamper. When I re-watched his performance I as struck on what a great color it was on him.
It really freaked me out when they did that song I was hoping it would never come down to that happening on that show (a U2 song being played or sung).. It is ruined now..such a beautiful song that was meant to be understated and poignant now is a overdone, r & b song that will be overplayed to death now in commercials and network promos..ugh.. it makes me sick.. 
AWESOME
Meatloaf was kind of scary. 
I guess I'm old cause I remember all those Dionne Warwick songs being played on the radio. Chris was awesome--I wanted him to win from the beginning when I saw him audition. Taylor is the man!!!!!
